Retrievable bottom hole separator valve



Nov. 26, 1968 H. H. MOORE, JR

RETRIEVABLE BOTTOM HOLE SEPARATOR VALVE Filed May 4, 1967 INVENTOR LAEMZ A'rrok NE Y5 NOV. 26, 1968 MOORE, JR 3,412,687

RETRIEVABLE BOTTOM HOLE SEPARATOR VALVE ATTORNE YJ' United States Patent 3,412,687 RETRIEVABLE BOTIOM HOLE SEPARATOR VALVE Howard H. Moore, Jr., Houston, Tex., assignor to Cameo, Incorporated, Houston, T ex., a corporation of Texas Filed May 4, 1967, Ser. No. 636,108 3 Claims. (Cl. 103-232) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A retrievable bottom hole separator valve for positioning in a tubing which is positioned in a well bore casing for transmitting water in the annulus between the tubing and the casing upwardly through the tubing, which valve is responsive to gas pressure in the annulus, fluid pressure in the tubing and annulus, and a bias spring thereby preventing gas perforations in the casing from being flooded by water'in the annulus.

Background of the invention Gas is generally produced from a gas well through perforations in a casing from the gas formation. However, water and other liquids may also be present and accumulate in the well bore covering the casing perforations thereby lowering the gas pressure, contaminating the gas produced, entering the gas formation, and otherwise interfering with gas production. The present invention relates to a retrievable bottom hole separator valve which can be positioned in a well tubing which in turn is placed internally of the well casing and in which the valve is responsive to gas and/or fluid pressure in the annulus, the liquid pressure in the tubing below the valve, and a bias spring to transmit the water in the annulus up into the tubing so that the water may be removed from the well bore by conventional gas lift valves.

In general, valves have been used in the past for diverting the water in the annulus into the tubing, but such valves have been fixed in position in the annulus and thus were not easily retrievable, and required the removal and insertion of the tubing in order to remove or insert such valves.

Summary The present invention is directed to providing a retrievable bottom hole separator valve for assisting in the removal of water from the casing of a gas well in which the valve is responsive to various gas, liquid, and spring bias forces for transmitting the water in the casing through the tubing so that the fluid can be conventionally removed by gas lift valves. The valve is adapted to be moved into and out of a tubing which is itself positioned in the casing and the valve includes releasable engaging means for coacting with the tubing for releasably locking the valve means at a position spaced above the lower end of the tubing depending upon the forces acting upon the valve and the fluid level to be maintained in the annulus between the tubing and the casing. The valve is acted upon by gas pressure in the annulus which tends to close the valve while the fluid pressure in the tubing below the valve acts against the valve tending to open the valve, and a bias spring in the valve is also provided to provide an opening bias on the valve. In addition, an upwardly directed conduit may be provided in the annulus to provide additional force acting upon the valve to close it so that the retrievable separator valve may be positioned at a lower position in the tubing to maintain the water level in the casing below said perforations. Thus the retrievable bottom hole separator valve may be made responsive to one or more forces which govern the opening 3,412,687 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 of the valve for maintaining the desired liquid level in the annulus.

Thus, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a retrievable bottom hole separator valve for use in a well tubing in a casing which may be readily inserted and removed from the tubing and which is responsive to various forces for controlling the liquid level in the annulus between the tubing and the well casing.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a retrievable bottom hole separator valve which is responsive to liquid pressure below the valve in the tubing, the liquid and gas pressure in the annulus between the tubing and the casing, and to a biasing spring.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, in cross-section and partly schematic, illustrating the use of the present invention in position in a well,

FIG. 2A is an enlarged elevational view, partly in crosssection of the top portion of the one form of the retrievable valve of the present invention,

FIGURE 2B is a continuation of FIGURE 2A,

FIGURE 3A is an enlarged elevational view, partly in cross-section of the coacting section of the tubing in which the valve is to be positioned, and

FIGURE 3B is a continuation of FIGURE 3A.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1, the reference numeral 12 generally indicates a well casing having a plurality of perforations 14 through which gas is produced from the adjacent well formation. However, water or other liquids may enter filling the casing 12 to a point above the perforations 14 thereby lowering the gas pressure, contaminating the gas, and possibly injuring the gas producing formation. The gas produced through the perforations 14 is passed upwardly through the casing 12 and through exit 16 where it is transported for treatment and/or sale.

In order to remove the water from the casing 14 a tubing 18 is placed internally of the casing 12 and is open at its bottom end 20'so as to be in communication with the fluids in the casing 14. Thus, the well liquid can flow from the annulus 22 between the casing 14 and the bottom end 20 of the tubing 18 depending upon the forces involved. A retrievable bottom hole separator valve, generally indicated by the numeral 10 is adapted to be moved into and out of the tubing 18 and releasably set in the tubing at a desired position and is responsive to various control forces, which will be more fully described hereinafter, for allowing passage of liquids from below the valve 10 in the tubing 18 to above the valve 10 and into the top of the tubing 18 whereby conventional gas lift valves 24 are provided connected to the tubing 18 for lifting the liquids out of the upper portion tubing 18 and through outlet 26 for passage to a suitable separator or to a pit.

Referring now to FIGURES 2A and 2B, the retrievable bottom hole valve 10 is shown which includes a body 28 having a valve seat 30 and valve stem 32 seating thereon to close the valve. A passageway 34 is provided in the housing 28 below the valve seat 30 and extends out of the bottom of the housing 28 and is therefore in communication with the lower end of the tubing 18 when the valve 10 isv positioned therein as shown in FIGURE 1 whereby the fluid pressure in the tubing 18 under the valve 10 acts against the valve stem 32 tending to open the valve.

The valve stem 32 extends through a cylinder 36 and seal 38 into a chamber 40.. Spring 42 may be provided and acts against a lock nut 44 and spring adjusting nut 46 to provide a biasing force which also tends to move the valve stem 32 upwardly and open the valve seat 30.

An opening 48 is provided in the housing 28 above the valve seat 30 for passage of liquid from the passageway 34 when the valve stem 32 is in an open position.- Seals 50 and 52 are provided on either side of the opening 48 to provide a seal between the housing 28 and the interior of the tubing 18. The opening 48 mates with a port 54 (FIGURE 3B) in the tubing 18 which in turn is connected to a bypass passageway 56 leading to a second liquid port 58 (FIGURE 3A) for passage of the liquid to an upward portion of the tubing 18.

Referring again to FIGURES 2A and 28, a chamber opening 60 is provided in the housing 28 in communication with the chamber 40 and is sealed from the interior of the tubing 18 by the seal 52 below the opening 60 and a seal 62 above the opening 60. The opening mates with a port 64-(FIGURE 3B) when the valve is in a set position of the tubing 18. Thus, gas in the annulus 22 will fiow through the opening 60 into the chamber 40 and acts across the valve stem 32 to provide a force tending to close the valve.

Preferably, it is desirable that the cross-sectional area of the valve stem 32 which extends through the seal 38 is equal to the cross-sectional area across the valve seat to provide balanced forces.

The valve stem 32 may be made responsive to an additional force by the provision of an upwardly extending open conduit 80 (FIGURES 1, 3A and 3B) which is in communication with the port 64 and opening 60 leading to the chamber 40. Thus, in addition to the gas pressure in the annulus acting through the conduit 80, any liquid in the conduit 80 also acts in the chamber against the top of the valve stem 32 to provide a force tending to close the valve seat 30. That is, fluids (gas and liquids) in the annulus 22 may flow through the conduit 80, port 64, the opening and into the chamber 40 acting against the top of the valve stem 32 tending to keep the valve stem closed against the valve seat 30. In certain applica- .tions, the conduit 80 may be omitted.

Referring now to FIGURES 2A and 3A, the releasable locking coaction of the valve 10 in the tubing 18 is best seen. A fishing neck 65 is provided for connection to a conventional wire line tool for setting and retrieving the valve 10. A slidable expander tube 66 is connected to the neck 65 and is slidable in the housing 28 and includes a locking shoulder 68. Suitable locking dogs 70 are provided supported by the housing 28 and are normally retracted as the tool is being inserted in the tubing 18 and the expander tube 66 and locking shoulder 68 is in an upward position relative to the housing 28. However, as shown in FIGURE 2A When the valve 10 reaches the proper location and the housing shoulder 72 seats on a tubing shoulder 74 (FIGURE 3A) further downward movement of the neck 65 moves expander tube 66 and locking shoulder 68 downwardly and behind the dogs 70 thereby forcing the dogs 70 into a coacting locking notch 76 (FIGURE 3A).

When it is desired to retrieve the tool 10 from the tubing 18 the reverse procedure is followed with a wire line tool lowered down the tubing 18 to engage and catch the fishing neck 65 whereby upward movement of the neck 65 will move the expander tube 66 and locking shoulder 68 from behind the dogs 70 allowing them to retract out of the notch 76 so that the apparatus 10 may be easily retrieved.

In operation, and omitting the upstanding conduit 80, any water or other liquid tending to form in the well would normally by hydraulic action be at equal heights in both the tubing 18 and casing 12. However, since there is gas pressure in the annulus 22, the liquid in the annulus 22 will flow downwardly in the annulus, through the lower end 20 of the tubing 18 and up into the tubing 18 toward the valve 10. Thus, there will result a head in the tubing 18 depending upon the amount of gas pressure in the annulus 22. By way of example, only, assuming that the gas pressure is exerting a. force of 1000 pounds, which is acting on top of valve stem 32 to keep the valve closed and the spring 42 has a pressure of 50 pounds tending to open the valve, the valve will remain closed until a sufficient amount of liquid accumulates in the Well to cause the liquid head in the lower end of the tubing 18 to rise and exert a pressure of 950 pounds against the bottom of the valve stem 32. When this occurs the fluid in the lower end 20 of the tubing 18 will flow through the passageway 34 past the valve seat 30 through the opening 48 into the first port 54 (FIGURE 3B), through the bypass passageway 56, and through the second liquid port 58 (FIGURE 3A) into the top portion of the tubing 18 to rise in the tubing actuating the conventional gas lift valves 24 whereby the gas in the casing goes through the gas lift valves 24 and lifts the liquid in the upper end of the tubing 18 to the surface and to the outlet 26.

However, if desired, the conduit 80 could also be used and which is open at the top so that the gas pressure in the annulus 22 plus any fluid in the pipe 80 acts through port 64 and opening 60 on the valve stem 32 to act to seat the valve stem on the valve seat 30. Thus, when the liquid in the casing annulus 22 falls below the top of the pipe 80 the liquid in the pipe 80 keeps the valve seat 30 closed. The valve seat 30 stays closed until liquid in the annulus 22 builds up to increase the pressure against the bottom of the valve stem 32 forcing the valve open.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment is given for the purpose of dis-closure, numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a well bore having a casing, a tubing mounted therein, the lower end of which communicates with the annulus between the tubing and the casing, gas in the annulus between the casing and tubing, gas lift valves connected to the tubing for removing any liquid in the tubing, the improvement in an apparatus for removing the liquid from the annulus comprising,

valve means adapted to be moved into and out of the tubing,

releasable engaging means on the tubing and the valve means for releasably locking said valve means in the tubing at a point spaced from the lower end of the tubing,

said valve means including a valve seat, a valve stem movable between open and closed positions against said valve seat,

means forming a closed chamber, one end of said valve stem being movably disposed in said closed chamber,

spring means biasing the valve stem in an open position,

port means communicating between the gas in the annulus and the closed chamber whereby gas pressure in the annulus acts to close said valve stem, and

a passageway means communicating between the upper side of the valve seat and the tubing whereby fluid in the tubing below the valve seat will flow into the tubing above the valve means when the valve stem is in its open position. '2. In a well bore having a casting, a tubing mounted therein, the lower end of the tubing communicating with the annulus between the tubing and the casing, gas in the annulus exerting gas pressure therein, .gas lift valves connected to the tubing for removing any liquid in the tubing above the lift valves, the improvement in an apparatus for removing the liquid from the annulus comprising,

valve means adapted to be moved into and out of the tubing,

releasable engaging means on the tubing and the valve means for releasably locking said valve means in the tubing at a point spaced above the lower end of the tubing,

said valve means including valve seat, a valve stem movable between open and closed positions against said valve seat,

means forming a closed chamber, one end of said valve stem being movably disposed in said closed chamber,

spring means biasing the valve stem in an open position,

port means communicating between the gas in the annulus and the closed chamber whereby gas pressure in the annulus acts to close said valve stem, and

a bypass passageway in said annulus extending from above the valve seat to a point in the tubing above the valve seat whereby fluid in the tubing below the valve seat will flow upwardly in the tubing when the valve stem is in its open position.

3. In a well bore having a casing, a tubing mounted therein with the lower end of the tubing communicating with the annulus between the tubing and the casing, gas flowing into annulus from opening in the casing and exerting gas pressure therein, gas lift valves connected to the tubing for removing any liquid in the tubing above the gas lift valve, the improvement in an apparatus for removing the liquid from the annulus comprising,

valve means including a valve seat and valve stem, said valve means adapted to be moved into and out of the tubing,

means forming a closed chamber having a port in the side thereof, one end of said valve stem being movably disposed in said closed chamber,

releasable locking means on the tubing and the valve means for releasably locking the valve means in the tubing at a point spaced above the lower end of the tubing,

spring means biasing the valve stem in an open position,

port means in the tubing adapted to be positioned adjacent the port in said closed chamber when the valve means is positioned in an engaged position in the tubing,

an upwardly directed conduit connected to the port means and positioned in the annulus whereby gas and liquid in the annulus will exert force on the valve stem acting to close the same, the top of the conduit being below the casing openings, and

a passageway means communicating between the upper side of the valve seat and the upper portion of the tubing whereby fluid in the tubing below the valve seat will flow into the tubing when the valve stem is in its open position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,865,305 12/1958 Vincent 103-232 2,920,764 1/1960 Hodges 166224 X 3,010,406 11/1961 Vincent l03--232 3,075,475 1/1963 Otis 103232 3,324,803 6/1967 Kelley et a1. 103232 3,366,074 1/1968 Shirley 103-232 DAVID H. BROWN, Primary Examiner. 

